Oil-refining device



March 12. 1929. F. E. ASELTINE OIL REFINING DEVICE Filed May 24, 1925 fUUEJz DI" ma f. LA@

.MZ .ZZESSES' my; 5551422201172 E U Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES FRED E. ASELTINE, OF DAYTON, Y CORPORATION, F DAYTON,

OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

OIL-REFINING DEVICE. i

Application filed May 24,

This Yinvention relates to apparatus for refining engine lubricating oil during the operation of the engine.

One of the objects of the invention is to prevent overheating of oil by the refining apparatus in order that the oil returned from the refining apparatus to the engine lubricating system will not be too hot for use as a lubricant.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

The figure. of the drawing is a diagrammatic view partly in section of the present invention showing its association with an 1nternal combustion engine.

Referring to the drawing, an engine not shown is provided with an intake 20 to which is attached a carburetor 21. The exhaust manifold of the engine is indicated at 22 and 25 is connected by coupling 23 with a pipe section 24 connected by coupling 25 with pipe 26.

The pipe section 24 supports and is surrounded by a refining chamber secured in place by means of nuts 31 and 32 threaded on 30 pipe 24, there being a packing material 33 between the nut 32 and the bottom of chamber 30.

Means for connecting the refining chamber 30 with the engine intake includes a pipe 34 having one end attached to the carburetor 21 and the other end to the chamber 30 above the level of liquid therein indicated approximately by the line 35.

Means for venting the chamber 30 to atmosphere includes a pipe 36 bent preferably downwardly so as to exclude falling water and the like.

Apparatus for delivering lubricating oil to the chamber 30 includes an oil pump 40 having an inlet 41 connected with the source of lubricant, usually the engine crank case. The pump outlet is connected by pipe 70, T 71 and pipe 72 with engine parts requiring lubrication. T 71 is connected by pipe 73 with a pressure reducer 74 including a body 75 supporting a valve 76 pressed by a spring 77 against a seat provided with a port connecting pipe 73 and body 75. The compression of spring 77 is adjusted by a screw 78 locked in position by a nut 79. Between the 1923. serial No. 641,259.

inlet and outlet of body 75, there is located a filter screen 80. A pipe 81 connects body 75 wlth a T 82, which 1s connected by pipe 83 leading to the lubricant circulating system, and by pipe 42 with a chamber 43. The entrance to chamber 43 is controlled by valve 44 mounted upon the free end of a thermostat -blade 45 secured at 46 within the chamber 43.

A coupling 47 connects chamber 43 with a float chamber 48. The entrance to chamber 48 is controlled by valve 49 actuated by float 50 which is guided by rods 51. The outlet of fioat chamber 48 is connected by pipe 52 with the chamber 30 and below the oil level 35.

The level of oil in chamber 30 is therefore controlled by the float valve 49.

Means for returning oil from the refining chamber to the engine lubricating system includes a port member 60 located at the bottom of chamber 30 and connected by pipe 61 with preferably the crank case or other receptacle through which the engine oil must pass. The port 60 is controlled by valve 62 mounted on the free end of a thermostat blade 63 attached by a screw 64 to a wall of charnber 30. Removal of the blade 63 is provided for by meansof an opening in chamber 30 which is closed by a cover 65 secured by screws 66.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

.The engine drives the oil pump 40 causing oil to be withdrawn from the system and forced through the chambers 43 and 48 into the refining chamber 30. Normally the valve 62 is Vclosed until a predetermined high temperature is reached. Therefore, oil will accumulate in the chamber 30 until approximately the level 35 is reached in the chambers 48 and 30 then the float controlled valve 49 will close to cut off the supply of oil to the chamber 30.

Operation of the engine will produce heating ofthe exhaust pipe 24. Therefore, the more volatile diluents of the oil in chamber 30 will be vaporized and removed from the body of lubricating oil and will ascend to the top of the chamber 30 and will then pass through the pipe 34 into the engine carburetor, and be drawn into the engine. When the degree of temperature of the oil in chamber 30 exceeds a certain amount, a temperature responsive valve 62 will open to permit some of the oil to return through pipe 61 to the engine lubricating system. As the level recedes from the line 35, the float controlled valve 49 will open causing more oil to How through the chamber 48 into the chamber 30.

Then, when the level 35 has been attained no more oil will be delivered to the chamber 30. As the cooler oil enters the chamber the temperatureof its contents will be reduced thereby causing the valve 62 to close. In this manner a substantially definite amount of oil is confined in the chamber 30 during the refining process. The valve 62operates to prevent excessive oil temperature in the chamber 3G by causing the level to recede from the line in order that cooler oi-l may be delivered to the chamber. At the same time the valve 49 operates to prevent an excessive amount of oil being delivered to the chamber in order that the level may not be so high that some lubricating oil might be splashed over into the pipe 34 due to vibration of the engine, to motion of the vehicle on Whichthe .engine is mounted, or to other causes.

The lubricating oil before returning to the ycrank case or other part ofthe engine lubricating system from the chamber 30 may be cooled if necessary by passage through a conventional cooling coil 70 or in any other Wellknown manner. If for any reason the oil entering the chamber 43 should be too hot then the blade will bow upwardly, close the valve 44 and stopthe delivery of oil to the refining chamber 30. Therefore increasing the temperature of the engine oil by the refining apparatus is prevented if the oil temperature has exceeded a predetermined temperature.

While the formof embodimentof the invention las described and illustrated constitutes a preferred form, it is to be under-l stood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within'the scope of the claims which ollo What I claim is as follows:

1. Apparatus for refining engine oil comprising, in combination with an engine having a lubricatmg oil circulating system, a

refining chamber and means for heating the same, temperature responsive means for controlling the flow of oil through the chamber and means responsive to the oil level in the refining chamber for controlling the flow of oil to the chamber, and means for returning oil from the chamber to said circulating system. j

2. Apparatus fonrefining cnjg'iine oil comprising, in combinatonwith an engine having a lubricating oil circulating s. stem, a refining chamber andmeans `for eating the same, vtemperature responsive means for controlling the flow of oil to the chamber and temperature responsive means independent of said first named temperature responsive means. for controlling the'flow f oil from the chamber to said circulating system.. i

and temperature responsive refining chamber and means for heating the same, temperature responsive means for controlling the fiow of oil to they chamber and means responsive to the oil level in the refining chamber for controlling the fiow Iof oil to the chamber, and temperature responsive means for controlling the fiow of oil from the chamber to said circulating system.

4. Apparatus for refining engine oil comprising, in combination with an engine having a lubricatingoil circulating system, a refining Jchamber and means for heating the same,l a separate chamber in communication with the refining chamber, a liquid level'controlling device in said separate chamber, means for delivering oil to said separate chamber, and a temperature responsive means for controlling the flow of oil to the separate chamber, and means for returning oil from the refining chamber to said circulating system.

5. Apparatus for refining engine oil comprising, in combination with an engine having a lubricating oil circulating system, a re ning chamber and means for heating the same, a separate chamber in communication with the 'refining chamber, a temperature responsive means in said separate chamber for preventing flow of oil to the refining chamber when the oil temperature in the system exceeds a certain'amount, and means for returning oil from the refining chamber to said circulating system. c

6. Apparatus forrefining engine oil comprising, in combination with an engine havingna lubricating oil circulating system, a re ing chamber and means forheating the same, means for delivering oil to the chamber,

means for controlling the discharge of oil fromy the chamber to said circulating system.

7. Apparatus for refining engine oil comprising, in combination with an engine having a lubricating oil circulating system, a refining chamber and means for heating the salne, means for deliverin oil' t the chamber and for discharging it terefromfand vtemperature' responsive means within the chamber controlling the discharge of oil therefrom for preventing the accumulating of oil in the chamber when the oil exceeds a ceitain temperature.

8. Apparatus for refiningr engine oil comprising, in combination, with anengine having a lubricating oil circulating system, a refining 'wchamber means for heating the same,.. means for supplying oil from the sys- 4 to said chamber for controlling the flow of y oil thereto, and temperature responsive means for controlling the flow of oil from the chamber to said circulating system.

9. The combination of an engine havin a lubricating oil circulating system, are ing chamber, means for heating the chamber, means for delivering oil from the system to the chamber and returning refined oil from the chamber to the system, means controlled by the temperature of the o1l in the chamber for emptying the still, and means controlled by the temperature of the oil in the system for controlling the supply of oil to the chamber.

10. In the combination as defined in claim 9, means for limiting the amount of oil in the chamber to a predetermined maximum.

11. The combination of an engine having a lubricating oil circulating system, a refin- ``3 ing chamber, means forheating the chamber,

means for delivering oil from vthe system to thelehamber and returning refined oil from the chamber to the system, means controlled by the temperature of the oil in the chamber ,25 for emptying the still, and means for limiting the amount of oil in the still to a pre-v determined maximum.

12. The combination of an engine having a lubricating oil circulating system, a refin- ,ing chamber, means for heating the same, means for delivering oil from the system to the chamber and returning refined oil from the chamber to the system, means controlled by the temperature of the oil in the system for controlling the supply of oil to the charnber, and means for limiting the amount of oil in the chamber to a predetermined maximum. 13. An engine having a circulating lubr1- 49 eating system including an oil pump, means for supplying oil from the system to the pump, means for conducting a portion of the oil from the pump to parts to be lubricated, oil purifying means, means for conducting a l5 portion of the remainder of the pump output to said purifying means, and means for returning the remaining portion of the pump output to the system, said oil purifying means comprising a distillation chamber, means con- 53 trolled by the temperature of the oil in the system for controlling the division of oil between said last` two mea-ns.

14. Apparatus for refining engine oil comprising, in combination, with an engine hav- 55 ing a lubricating oil circulating system, a distillation chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a valve for the outlet, said outlet being located adjacent the bottom of the still, means for supplying oil to the chamber from the lubricating 'system through said inlet, 60 means responsive to the`temperature of the oil in the system for varying the flow of oil through said inlet inversely with the oil temperature, and means responsive to the temperature of the oil in the still for controlling e5 the said outlet valve to cause the latter to open when the oil reaches a predetermined temperature.

15. In the combination as defined in claim 14, float controlled means for controlling the amount of oil admitted to said still.

16. lThe combination of an automobile engine having a lubricating oil circulating system including a pump for supplying 011 under pressure to the bearings, a pressure relief valve on the discharge side of the pump, a lubricating oil purifying means, means for supplying the purifying means with oil passing through the pressure relief valve, means for returning the purified oil to the system, said purifying means being provided with automatic means for cutting off the flow of oil therethrough, and said supplying means being provided with a path in parallel with the path through said purifying means for the return of oil to the system.

17. In combination, a lubricating system comprising a pump, means for supplying oil from the pump to parts to be lubricated, a pressure controlled bypass connected with said means and arranged to permit the discharge of oil therethrough when the pressure exceeds a predetermined amount, an oil purifying devlce su plied with oil through said bypass, means or returning the purified oil from the device to the system, and a branch conduit in parallel with said oil purifying device for returning the oil from the bypass to the system.

18. In combination, a lubricating system comprising a pump, means for supplying oil from the pump to parts to be lubricated, a pressure controlled bypass connect/el with said means and arranged to permit the discharge of oil therethrough when the pressure eX- ceeds a predetermined amount, an oil purifying device supplied with oil through said bypass, means for returning the purified oil from the device to the system, said oil purifying device being provided with means for 110 restricting the flow therethrough under predetermined conditions, and said bypass being provi'ded with a branch passage in parn allel with said oil purifying device for returning oil from the bypass to the system.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

FRED E. ASELTINE. 

